asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the proportion of the EEC research budget devoted to the following activities (a) promoting agricultural competitiveness (b) promoting industrial competitions (c) improving management of raw materials (d) improving management of energy resources broken down as between nuclear and non-nuclear energy (e) development and (f) living and working conditions; if he has satisfied himself with this proportionate distribution; and if he will outline the scale and nature of Irish participation in programmes under each heading.

Under the EEC's first Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development for the years 1984 and 1987 the proportion of the EEC Research Budget which was devoted to the activities mentioned by the Deputy is as follows:

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the proportionate distribution outlined above was agreed by the EEC Council of Ministers in July 1983.

The National Board for Science and Technology acts as national co-ordinator for Irish participation in the various EEC programmes.

The following table sets out the position as to estimated commitments made in each of the years 1984, 1985 and 1986 by the EEC towards Irish participants in the various individual programmes arising from the First Framework Programme:

As the Deputy is no doubt aware a Second Framework Programme for Community Activities in Research and Technological Development for the five years 1987-1991, was approved by the Council of Ministers on 28 September last. The overall financial envelope amounts to 6,480 million ECUs and covers the following eight main areas:

I am generally satisfied with the distribution of funding under the Second Framework Programme. I am particularly pleased that the allocation for energy, the bulk of which relates to nuclear research, has been reduced from 47 per cent of the budget for the First Framework Programme to 27 per cent of the Second Framework Programme's budget.

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. Are there any ongoing discussions taking place or will the position remain during the period of the Second Framework Programme as now outlined? Are there continuing discussions which would take cognisance of changing emphasis in various countries?

There will be certain ongoing discussions. The whole programme has been agreed by the Council of Ministers. If the Deputy wants me to read out the supplementary information on file I will be here until tomorrow.